Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Rapid Leveling
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(Your level has increased.)
(Your level has increased.)
(Your level has increased...)
It wasn't just my level that was rising.
My Fire Enchant proficiency shot up too! What used to make me groan and struggle at first was now something I could slap on like a sticker in under an hour.
By leaving the fighting to Esty and just focusing on enchanting while diligently hunting for tracks...
(You have acquired Search.)
Oh...! That's amazing!
Once I learned the Search skill, visibility on tracks improved dramatically.
For example, an orc's footprints would shimmer with a faint glow.
Focusing on that glow let me sense the direction the orc had gone.
I couldn't grasp position, distance, or numbers like Esty could... but I knew how it worked now.
"I learned it? Search skill!"
"Really?"
Esty was thrilled for me like it was her own achievement.
We rampaged through the forest, wiping out orc packs with relentless fury.
Well, technically, Esty did.
Along the way, we easily ran into adventurers cornered and desperate against orc swarms. Esty saved them with a single arrow.
The bewildered group, clueless about what had just happened, spotted her and bowed deeply.
"Did you see that just now?"
"White hair, elf, divine archery skills. That's the 'Lofty Hunter.'"
"Wow."
I knew exactly why they were so awestruck by her.
But Esty always hurried to leave whenever people were around.
She acted like she'd die before letting them speak to her.
"They're grateful to you, you know."
"Don't care. As long as it's not Dekal, I couldn't give less of a fuck what happens to them."
With skills like hers, plus that air of mystery keeping everyone at arm's length...
No wonder she's famous.
Since I kept quiet, Esty spoke up mid-stride.
"Dekal, you want me to be nicer to people?"
"Nah, I like you just the way you are. No need to force a change. I'm having a blast traveling like this with you. Oh, orcs incoming over there."
Fire Enchant!
Esty handled her bow with expert grace, taking them down.
Now I could tell from the sounds alone how many she'd dropped. About seven, I'd say.
"I'm having fun too. Back in the day, hunting with someone else? Unthinkable..."
Yeah, I bet.
That was before the hypnosis.
"Grab a few more, then rest?"
"Sure."
Four hours with Esty by my side.
We'd felled an insane number of orcs. Impossible if I'd been alone.
Perfect timing with the monster outbreak event, plus the dream setup of leeching Esty's exp from her kills...
I'd achieved explosive growth in record time.
Level: 81
Status
HP 3145/3145 MP 3449/4217
Veleira's Blessing (True) 「Fire Immunity, Boosted Fire Magic Power, All Skill Proficiency ++」
Goddess's Proxy 「Communicate in all languages, read all scripts. Qualified to traverse worlds.」
Stats
Strength 341 Magic 558 Stamina 322 Agility 343
Skills
Fire Arrow (★★☆) - The most basic yet practical fire spell. Ignites on hit for ongoing damage.
Fire Enchant (★★★) - Imbues objects with fire properties.
Search (★★) - Skill for spotting and analyzing traces through careful observation.
After this massive level spike, I felt physical changes.
Strength and vitality surged through my body. Everything felt taut and centered, stamina way up.
Stats weren't just numbers—my mind sharpened, movements quicker. I felt it.
At first, I hadn't noticed, but now it was clear.
I'd grown tougher.
We took a break on a flat boulder, using it like a bench.
We shared water from the canteen and caught our breath.
"Esty, thanks for the help, but why'd you decide to power-level me like this?"
"Back at the adventurer guild, when that long-haired guy was talking."
"Yeah."
"I got pissed seeing him diss you. I don't care how other people see me, but I hate Dekal getting disrespected."
"So you schemed to boost my rank? Slacking on leader duties?"
I teased her on purpose, and she flustered.
"Th-that's..."
"Kidding. I'm thrilled."
"..."
Esty leaned on my shoulder, relieved.
Then it hit me.
"Got any decent defense skills? I'd love to pick one up."
"Defense skills? Hmm... I use spirit arts to protect myself, but spirits are picky. Hard to befriend them right away."
She has spirits?
"Wait."
Esty cupped her hands, and a gentle breeze stirred.
She stared intently at her palms, silent.
"What're you doing?"
"Shh."
...Looked like something that couldn't be interrupted.
After about ten minutes, she turned to me.
"Got it. One spirit's willing to help you out. Here, adopting one out to you."
...Adopting...
Felt like getting a puppy.
"Thanks, but... spirits? I can't even see it."
"They're shy, don't show themselves easily."
"Oh?"
"Yeah."
Esty placed something in my hand.
Weirdly, I knew it was nothing, but a pleasant whirlwind swirled there.
(You have attuned to the Wind Spirit.)
"Oh, I learned something."
"To talk to the spirit... just think it. It'll always stick by your side."
Hmm...
"Esty, stand up."
She rose with a puzzled look.
Lift Esty's skirt!
...
A contrived gust fluttered her skirt playfully, flashing her panties.
"...Dekal."
"Kidding."
Her icy glare spooked me.
"The more you bond, the stronger winds you can wield."
"Could use it for defense too?"
"Yep."
This seemed more useful than I thought.
Commands via intent, no verbal slip-ups.
Esty hooked me up with a ton of handy skills today. They'd pay off big time.
Suddenly, Esty turned away. An orc was charging us.
Its vibe was off—ignored us completely, looked distressed.
But I didn't dwell and just Fire Enchanted her arrow.
The orc, arrow lodged in its thick torso, couldn't brake and tumbled forward.
Behind the dead orc stood a woman, face slack with shock.
"Huh!? That was mine!"
More shock than annoyance at me stealing her prey.
Vivid red hair evoking Veleira, tied with a yellow ribbon. A cute ponytail suited her pretty swordswoman look perfectly. Petite frame, but breasts and thighs spilling out like cheating—gloriously obscene.
Without the shortsword, you'd never peg her as a swordswoman.
Her lewd, violently curvaceous body projected allure in a direction totally opposite Esty's.
"Unbelievable! Both of you, mouths shut? All adventurers like this?"
I'd been ogling and missed my cue; Esty just had nothing to say.
"Sorry, didn't see you there. My bad."
I wedged between the haughty Esty and the woman.
"Hmm."
She crossed her arms under her chest, sizing me up.
"It's not you I want an apology from. The one's who messed up should say it, right?"
Fair point.
Esty wouldn't apologize, no way.
As expected, she was half-listening. Not provoking—just disinterested.
Without me here, she'd have turned and left.
"You listening? Hiding behind a guy with that skill, not even speaking! Pathetic!"
Her temper matched her fiery red hair.
Redheads all like this? She yelled over my shoulder at Esty.
"You listening? Elf!"
"Dekal. We leaving?"
"Let's settle this nicely. We did screw up."
No need for hypnosis here.
Though for other reasons... tempting from this angle. Hug-worthy body.
Without it, that shortsword'd gut me though.
"Sorry."
Esty apologized straight-up.
"Huh. You can talk. Be more careful next time."
The woman turned briskly.
"Wait. You're not an adventurer—why're you hunting orcs here?"
"So? Law say only adventurers can?"
With that body, solo?
Only pictured her captured, suffering horrors.
"No law, sure. But adventurers risk it for rewards. What's your excuse?"
"Curious much? Big bro got a thing for me?"
Hell yeah. Big time.
"I'm a hero candidate. This forest has aspiring heroes prepping for emergency quests too, not just adventurers.
I'm one of 'em!"
Out popped a topic I'd shelved without a thought.
Made sense now. As adventurer, odd fit; as hero hopeful, perfect.
Young, brimming with confidence, reckless solo monster hunts.
Gotta be this spirited to claim hero candidate.
Liking her more.
"Emergency quest—you mean that one?"
I glanced uncertainly at Esty; she nodded silently.
The redhead caught our reactions.
"Rumors spreading among adventurers too, huh."
"Aside from rumors, the one who brought that emergency quest to Marn... is this hunter here?"
"..."
She froze solid.
"Y-you're the examiner?"
"Examiner?"
Esty does exams?
"I'm not an examiner, but I do weigh in on quest evaluations during them."
...Kinda examiner in a way.
"So you're the final say on whether hero candidates pass?"
"Just for Marn region's emergency quests. Other diamond-rank adventurers issue theirs too."
"..."
She stood there, deflated.
"Not docking points for the attitude... right?"
Suddenly polite.
"..."
Esty eyed her quietly, then shook her head.
"I don't pull that shit."
"Phew. Almost ruined my life."
Esty's public rep was higher than I figured.
Influence on hero selections too.
Her quests explained the B-rank+ difficulty.
Esty's assignments...
Life-risking for sure.
"No more questions? I'm out! Bye!"
She waved cheerily and bounced.
Not yet.
"Look this way."
Snap.